Safeword: Arabesque (Safewords Book 9) (16 page)

Isaac looked horrified. “Sweet Thing, do you mean to tell me you haven’t orgasmed since your spanking?” She shook her head and he reached across the table. “I’m so sorry. I’d have never left you in that shape if I’d known.”

Cassie tilted her head. “You thought I’d go home and get myself off?”

“Of course. I wish you’d let me know you couldn’t, but you didn’t know to tell me. It isn’t anyone’s fault, but I’m still sorry.” He smiled. “I’m assuming you’ll want to take things a little farther, tonight?”

Sam had also told her these things were eventually easier to talk about, but she wasn’t there yet. Still, she took a breath and answered the question. “Yes, Sir. I don’t think I want to put any limits on you. I still want to be able to use my safeword in case I change my mind, but I’d like to give you the ability to construct a scene without my dictating what can and can’t happen.”

He was quiet and she felt she needed to fill the silence. “You knew exactly how to spank me. I’m going to assume you’ll make it good, and know what to do if I get out of the way and don’t keep you from doing it.”

He caressed her hand. “I appreciate and value your trust. However, I still need input from you, okay? I’m not a mind reader. You need to let me know what works, and what doesn’t work.”

The waitress brought their food and they waited for her to go.

“I need to ask some questions,” he said. “I know you haven’t had a whole lot of experience and I need to know a little more of what you’ve done. Okay?”

Cassie nodded and he asked, “Anal sex?”

She shook her head. “No, but I’d like to…well, I don’t think I’m ready for the full monty, but I’d like to work up to it? Maybe?”

He smiled. “As long as you’re open and honest, there are no right or wrong answers. Okay, next question — do you have any injuries, old or new, I should know about? A joint that doesn’t move the way it’s supposed to, or a recent bruise, or a strained muscle?”

She shook her head, but said, “I’ve hurt my right knee a couple of times. It isn’t hurting now but it doesn’t take much to aggravate it.”

“Perfect, exactly what I was looking for. Okay, final question for now — are you okay with bondage tonight, or do you want to hold off?”

She shrugged. “I don’t want to put limits on how you structure the scene. If you think bondage is the way to go, then do it.”

He eyed her a few seconds and said, “I know you’re new, and you’re safe with me, but I worry about you letting others to tie you up so soon. If you’ll let me take you to a club in Atlanta one weekend, I can introduce you to some people down there. If you like bondage it’s really the only safe way to play with new people, because there are others around who will make sure a safeword is respected.”

Okay, now Cassie was starting to get annoyed. She took a breath, considered her words, and said, “I appreciate your concern, but I’ve talked to a friend in the lifestyle who says if Peggy vouches for you, you’re safe. I promise I won’t let random strangers tie me up, okay?”

His smile was almost apologetic. “I’m sorry if I offended you. You’re a grown woman and can take care of yourself, but sometimes I feel a little protective. You’re just figuring out who you are and what you like, and I know you need to experiment around, and I worry. I like you and don’t want to see you hurt beyond the good kind of hurt.”

“But, what if I want to know what that feels like? I don’t mean by an asshole, but in the construct of a scene? Like for punishment, and not pleasure?”

“Let’s get through tonight and see how we do, and if you’d like then we can put our heads together and figure out what you’re looking for in those regards, and find a safe way to give it to you. But, for tonight I’d like to stick to the good stuff.” He took a drink of his water and added, “Speaking of which, I have some rules for the scene tonight, and consequences if you don’t follow them.” He smiled. “So, you may end up with a few hard swats, to give you a touch of what you’re looking for.”

Cassie’s insides heated and she squirmed a little on her chair. Isaac’s smile told her he noticed, and she felt her face go hot.

“You blush so pretty. Okay, rules.” He leaned forward. “You use a respectful tone of voice. I won’t require you to say Sir, though if you want to say it I love hearing it. The point is, you don’t bite my head off, or snarl at me, or use a disrespectful tone.”

He went quiet as he looked into her eyes and waited for her response.

Cassie took a breath, didn’t trust her voice, took another breath, and finally said, “Okay, Sir. I understand. What happens if I screw up?”

“Depends on what we’re doing. If I’m already spanking you, I’ll probably deliver a few hard swats. If I’m playing with your breasts, I may twist and pull your nipples for ten or fifteen seconds. If I have to remind you too many times, I might introduce your tongue to a bar of soap.”

Damn, Cassie wanted to start playing
now
. The idea someone would bother to hand out consequences so she had to obey or else, kind of like Cam — though nowhere near his level — was almost more than her body could handle.

He seemed to be waiting for her response so she said, “I’m not terribly happy about the last, but I don’t have a problem with any of it.”

Nodding, he continued, “Second rule. You tell me if I move from good pain to bad. You can use your safeword to stop the scene and tell me, but you don’t have to. The point is, tonight I’m going to focus on giving only pleasurable pain.” He grinned and amended, “Unless it’s a consequence, of course.”

Cassie gave a small, nervous, laugh. “Of course.”

“Okay then,” he said, “you’ll tell me if it’s a bad hurt. If I mean for it to be, I’ll tell you, and
then
you can use your safeword if you want it to stop. Okay?”

She nodded and he and took a bite, chewed slowly as if considering, and finally said, “With experienced subs I don’t allow questions. With a new submissive, I do, but the questions don’t pause the action. Do you understand?”

Cassie thought about it a few seconds and decided she didn’t. She shook her head and he smiled.

“Good for you. Always be honest, and if you don’t understand let me know. Okay, if I tell you to do something, you have to do it or risk a consequence. If you want to know why, you can ask, but only after you’re moving to do as you were told.” He paused a moment and clarified. “You don’t ask the question, find out why I want you to do it, and
then
do it.”

Okay, that made sense. She could ask, but couldn’t control the scene with her questions. She didn’t imagine Frisco had ever let Cam ask inside of a scene, and she liked Isaac even more for opening things up so she could.

“Thanks. I mean, for making it so I can ask? It’s nice.”

He smiled. “I’m a nice guy, what can I say?”

Cassie laughed, but asked, “If I don’t do as I’m told, what will the consequence be? The same ones you listed in case I screw up? Or will it be worse if I actually disobey?”

He shook his head. “I’m not big on structured consequences with new submissives. If it’s the first time you’ve broken the rule, the consequence will be quick and painful and over with before too terribly long. If you break the rule several times and I feel you need more reinforcement, I’ll provide it. However, we’ll cross those bridges if we come to them. Okay?”

Cassie nodded and took a bite, not sure what to say.

“Now it’s time for you to tell me what you’d like to see happen. Is there something you have in mind, and you’ll be disappointed if we get to the end and it doesn’t happen?”

“Well, an orgasm would be nice this time.” She tried to make it a joke, but it didn’t come out that way and she felt herself blushing again.

He laughed. “I think we can work something out. I’m talking about implements, or activities. Something you want used on you? Or done to you?”

“Do we have to talk about this here?”

He chuckled. “I asked for a table up here away from everyone else so we could speak freely, Sweet Thing.”

She rolled her eyes and said, “I’ve watched the guys I’ve been playing with, and I’ve never like…
done
anal. I mean, anything at all. Not even a finger. It looks, interesting. And scary.”

He smiled. “An anal virgin for
everything
? Well, anal sex won’t happen tonight, but we can give you some play.” He rubbed her leg with his and Cassie thought he looked perhaps a little too delighted. “I’m so happy you’re sharing; what else?”

“Floggers? I know there are different kinds, and they all give different sensations?”

“Not a problem. You’ve only had sensation play, no impact and pain play, right?” She nodded and he asked, “Any interests in canes or belts? Nipple clamps?”

“I don’t know.” She was intrigued by nipple clamps, but too scared of them to actually ask. She shrugged and told him, “You’re the expert.”

“How about bondage? Do you want to try a gag, or be bound a certain way?”

“Oh. No gags. I have some issues with my jaw, so…”

“Good to know. If there’s anything else you forgot to tell me, don’t hesitate to speak up when you remember, okay?”

Isaac kept the conversation mostly on kink during the rest of dinner, and Cassie discovered she was more comfortable talking about it as they finished up.

The drive to his house could have been awkward, but he once again kept her talking, though this time it was about kink in movies and television.

Cassie hesitated on the bottom step of his front porch, suddenly terrified.

“You okay?” His voice was soothing, compassionate.

She took a breath and admitted, “Just nervous. I want to do this, I’m just…”

One foot up the steps. The next foot up the steps.

Isaac took her hand and walked her the rest of the way up. He stopped at the front door and pulled her to him. “Do you regret your spanking?”

Cassie laughed. “No, Sir. Thanks. You’re right.”

He kept one arm around her as he unlocked the door with a keypad much like Frisco’s, and led her inside.

The house had looked fairly normal from the outside — a typical upper middle class home. However, the inside was clearly a bachelor pad, with leather sofas, oversized electronics, and not a lot of fabric or textiles. Almost none if you didn’t count the leather.

“I don’t have a playroom, but I’m set up for play in the bedroom. C’mon, Sweet Thing. You’re nervous and the sooner we get started the sooner you’ll chill out.”

No matter Isaac had his arm around her as they stepped into the room, her stomach dropped to her feet, her heart went into her throat, and her legs froze.

His bed was fucking scary. Thick black steel with smaller pieces between them framed the bed in all directions, creating an industrial four-poster canopy bed that looked like a skyscraper without the skin.

“Come on in, Cassie. It won’t bite.”

She let him coax her in and she asked, “What’s it made of? It looks like the stuff you’d make a bridge with, or something industrial?”

“That’s exactly right — they’re steel joists, coated with an epoxy to make them black.” He pulled her towards him and wrapped his arms around her, so she faced the bed as she leaned back against him.

A few seconds later he turned her in his arms — facing him so she could no longer see the intimidating bed. “It’s just you and me, right?” he asked. “If I tie you to it so you can’t move and you decide it’s too much, you just have to say your safeword, right?”

Cassie took a breath and nodded. She was being silly. Sure, it was scary looking, but this was Isaac and she trusted him. He’d spanked her and she’d loved it.

Time to stop being a baby.

“You’re right. Thanks for being patient with me; I’ll try to stop being so skittish. Where do you want me?”

He stroked her cheek. “Just as equestrians put blinders on a skittish horse, I’m going to blindfold you. Okay?”

Cassie relaxed and nodded. She’d loved it when Frisco blindfolded her.

Isaac’s blindfold was so much softer than Frisco’s — luxurious fabric instead of leather, and with soft fur lining the outer rim of the part touching her cheeks and eyebrows.

The fabric didn’t plunge her into total darkness but she couldn’t see anything in the room. She thought she might like the darkness better, but realized her eyes weren’t as likely to hurt when this one came off.

Fingers touched her waist and moved to her dress pants. She took a breath as he pushed the button out of the buttonhole, and then slowly lowered the zipper. The fabric slid to the floor around her, and deft fingers worked the buttons on her blouse.

She swayed a little and he placed her hand on his hip.

“It’s hard to stand still when you’re blindfolded. It’s okay to touch me. We’ll get you strung up with rope securing you in place soon enough.”

Her blouse slid off her arms and caught at her wrist, but he wrapped his arm around her and gently pulled it off her hand.

“I’m going to walk you to the bed, and then I’ll drape your pants and blouse over a chair so they won’t get wrinkled.”

Cassie let him walk her and was thankful he went slow. He placed her hand around one of the steel beams and let go of her in stages to be sure she was okay.